Tuesday, October 28, 2008

I was tagged by Bobbi for this meme a week ago. I know...it's been a crazy week! Thank goodness she's a good friend and won't hang it over my head! It seems everyone has been tagged so I'll spare you!

7 unknown facts about me...

1) I love tea. Hot tea and iced tea. My favorite is "Constant Comment" by Bigelow and it is a black tea that is flavored with rind of oranges and sweet spice. This is a picture of me having tea with my tea set at Nana and Papa's house...tea and tea parties started early!2) My Nana and Mom used to call me Gerry Giraffe when I was little. I was always tall and skinnier than a rail. At the time, I didn't think it was too funny. In the early 90's, Mom bought me this whimsical folk art giraffe to always remind me. It is a treasure to me now! 3) In 1970, when I was 12, I spent the month of July in Mexico with 9 other friends from school as an exchange student. We all stayed with host families. While there, we visited the anthropology museum, floating gardens, caves, and the pyramids. This is me (white pants and red shirt) coming down the pyramid. I'm not sure if it is the pyramid of the sun or moon. But I remember that the steps are huge and it is steep!4) In the summer of 1974, when I was 16, a friend and I picked up two hitchhikers while we were on a family vacation in Bend, Oregon (hitchhiking back then was common), and were kidnapped. They drew a knife and pistol and told us to drive the car toward Paulina Lake which is located in the Deschutes National Forest. They had us drive off the road into the forest. We were gagged and tied to trees while they stole our wallets, money, and my mom's car. Long story short...a few hours later they came back (furious) for the key to the gas cap. When they took the car, the first time, they only took the ignition key. They kindly untied us for a bit because our hands were swollen from being tied so tightly. During this time, I asked if I could take a pill that was in my purse because I remembered my nail clippers were in there. They let me and while I took the Tylenol, I slipped my nail clippers down the back of my pants (un's) without them seeing. They tied and gagged us again and left. About an hour later, I got myself cut free and freed my friend and we ran to the road and sat in the bushes until someone drove down the road (that wasn't my Mom's car) and we flagged them for help. That person drove us to the State Police in Bend. They put out an APB (all points bulletin) in the seven western states and at 3 a.m. they were busted in a motel room in Portland, Oregon. They were arrested and charged with armed robbery, kidnapping, and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle (unauthorized...STEALING is more like it! ~wink~). They were also busted for doing the same thing to an older couple that were tied up in their apartment and were hit over the head and knocked out, in California, while they ripped them off and stole their car. Do you think I've EVER picked up another hitchhiker?5) I was introduced in the summer to my husband, by a mutual friend, when I was (14) and he had just graduated (17). I fell head over heels and it was love at first sight for both of us! We were married on my 19th birthday, May 13, 1977, on Friday the 13th at 7:00 p.m. Nope, not superstitious. I carried thirteen red roses in my bouquet. The 13th of May also falls on Mother's Day some years. We have been married for 31 years. Other than my two boys...Mark was the best gift I've ever received!!!

*Notice his jacket...5 minutes before we were to walk down the aisle...he put on his jacket and they forgot to alter the sleeve length...the sleeves were about 3" too short! Still makes me smile when I look at our pictures.

6) When we were first married and renting an old farm house, we were finally able to have some pets. So we bought two female Korat cats and named them Ebony and Amber. I didn't know about Korat's until my boss told me about their two cats and they were 22 and 20 years old. Mark and I bought them from the same lady in Woodburn, OR, 20+ years later. They are native to Thailand and are considered a symbol of good fortune. They are beautiful cats with a blue-gray coat with silver tips. They only have one coat and do not shed much hair. They have heart shaped faces and when they are little their eyes are amber and once they are a few years old they turn a beautiful and vivid peridot green. At night with a spotlight their eyes reflect green rather than the usual red that most cats do. They are very sweet-natured cats.

This is Ebony when she was a baby.

7) Twenty years ago, I got my business license and started my own medical transcription business. It was called Southwest Transcription Service. I started it so that I could still work for the doctors I worked for, but I could stay at home with my youngest while he was young. I stuck with it for about eight years.

Extra tidbit #8...my husband made me do it! I was a car thief!!! When I was 13, and my Mom was asleep, I took her keys and my little sister (10) and went for a joy ride in her Buick Skylark! The passing gear was very exciting! Thankfully, I did no harm and we are both still ALIVE!!!

Did you know Grace came to Oregon this past week? I was so fortunate to meet her and three of her very fun and dear friends this past Thursday. I drove about an hour to Hillsboro to meet her. Historic Hillsboro is a quaint little town that was founded in 1842. Being a native Oregonian, I have truly only been to Hillsboro once or twice in my life but never to old town. We met at Planet Bead and shopped, then the five of us had a delicious lunch and lots of laughter together at the Stratford House, a very L O N G photo shoot...thanks to me always closing my eyes~wink~, and then we all went to Craft Warehouse. We even went into a an old drugstore that had an old fashioned soda fountain and bar stools that was very cool. Believe me...Grace is just as sweet and down to earth as you can imagine she is! I was so excited and kind of nervous when I left home about meeting everyone, but as soon as we said hi...the nervousness was gone. It was like picking up where you left off with an old friend. It was such a pleasure and honor to meet 'AMAZING GRACE' and her sweet friends. I have always loved the name Grace and thought it was so special...there is a reason why her Mom named her that! I had the best time and will always cherish the afternoon we shared. The hardest part of our visit was how fast the time flew by! I've been fortunate to meet Bobbi and Grace and I have found that there is something very special about artists...we are all the same...honest...kind...kindred spirits! You'll have to watch her blog...I'll bet she'll post some great snaps of Oregon! She visited the Columbia River Gorge...Mt. Hood...and even went to the beach...and the weather has been BEAUTIFUL...all week! Anyway, it was such a pleasure and my honor to meet her and you would adore her too!!! Thank you Grace, Anne, Bobbie, and Sammie for sharing your time with me!

Saturday, October 18, 2008

I participated in the 2008 Beaded Face Pin Swap this year. I couldn't help myself and wanted to jump in at the last minute and play. I sent three pins and received three pins in return. Check out the pins that were submitted this year. They are all wonderful and unique and maybe you would consider signing up to play next year! I just love and adore the pins I received...they are AWESOME!

The beautiful pin above is named 'Dreams of Spring' and was made by the host of the pin swap...Carol Strand-Siebers!

This beautiful pin was made by Chris Ann Philips!

This beautiful pin was made by Connie Welch!

Thank you all for making such delightful and beautiful art pins. I will treasure and cherish each one!!!

Thank you Carol for hosting this fun event! I certainly look forward to playing again next year!

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

Sad story...big lessons learned! Have you ever opened your mouth and from the gland under your tongue...out squirts some saliva? This has happened a couple times in my life, not very often, gratefully, but it has happened. I know, disgusting but true! I was literally finishing the last of my beading around the boys picture when out of my mouth saliva spurted right on Spencer's shirt! I about had heart failure and my poor husband was tip-toeing around for awhile! I attempted to stay calm and let it dry. Once dry, it was still there. So I got some Q-tips wet and moistened the area and when it was dry, I thought I had saved it! Little did I know or see until I was proof reading my post Sunday...that the spot was still there!!! Oh, my heart just sank. I sat down, cut it out, and redid it again. I included both photos so that you could see...and I know in my heart it was for the best! I wasn't very sold on the ink jet fabric sheets I was using in the first place. The picture seemed so washed out and their faces were lacking color, the fabric was very thin and hard to keep smooth, and it certainly didn't hold up to a drop of saliva hitting it! But after reprinting the pictures on a different brand of printable fabric the second time around...what a huge difference! Believe me, I am totally ready to start my October page and I stitch with my lips sealed now!!! ~wink~

The theme I chose for the 2008 Bead Journal Project is 'Fragments of My Life' and what lies within my heart each month and every year that passes. I named my September page, "I Pledge Allegiance." Every September I can't help but think of fall and school starting and remembering my boys school days. There are many memories that live in my heart that relate to their school days and learning. They had so many happy days, so much growth, and many life lessons were learned during those years. There were the crazy and hectic schedules that we all kept between work, school, family, sports, and other activities. The new school clothes, shoes, and supplies that were needed each year. I often wonder how many backpacks, notebooks, pens and pencils were bought through those years! ~wink~ I knew with a photo of my boys that I didn't want the page to be too busy, so I thought I'd bead a flag. I remember saying the Pledge of Allegiance every morning when I was a young girl and the big flag that flew in front of the school. My boys remember those same flag memories of their school days. I also thought it appropriate because I pledged my allegiance 'loyalty' to them as their mom.

My pages are 5"x7" and I stitched ultrasuede to Pellon. The flag is stitched with vintage 9/0 venetian beads and was stitched on a separate piece of ultrasuede and then stitched down to my page. I tried to get the flag to have movement and be waving in the wind. I'm not sure that I captured what I was trying to convey, but I did the best I could. I inserted a small amount of batting under the flag as I stitched it down and when I was done I made a few tiny tack stitches in between some rows of beads to give it some movement. The flag pole is stitched over a bamboo skewer that I painted silver with french faceted steel cuts that I have been hoarding for some future day. These were either my grandmother's or great-grandmother's beads from a crochet/beaded bag that was in sad shape. The photo was edged with vintage stressed silver nailheads and steel cuts.*This is the sad photo that was torn out...can you see the spot on Spencer's shirt? And see how washed out and faded the picture is compared to the other!*

I learned some things stitching this page. First and foremost, to keep my lips zipped while stitching! I did not enjoy trying to stitch through the corners (four layers of ultrasuede)! My fingers have some holes in them even though I used a thimble at times and my pliers too. I folded an inch over on the back and my future pages will be a half inch or so. Since the ultrasuede doesn't ravel, I feel confident that a smaller amount will work out better and I will attempt to stay away from the corners while beading if I can. *ADDENDUM... after thoughtful consideration...it 'finally' occurred to me that I could use pellon or paper and do my beading (no layers) and then whip stitch the fabric to the back when I'm done!!! H e l l o...Lisa!!! ~wink~* I wasn't sure if the flag would turn out and be the size that I wanted it to be, so I stitched it on a piece of ultrasuede first and used Japanese Sumi painting paper for stabilizer. I was amazed how stable and supportive the paper felt to use and how soft it became as I beaded along. I will certainly be open to using paper again as a stabilizer and I'm glad I tried it. The other thing I am not totally sold on yet is the fabric sheets! The first (sad) photo was printed on Printed Treasures by Milliken, from a local fabric shop (Pendleton Woolen Mills), because I thought the pima cotton seemed a little finer (smoother) than the Avery printable fabric that I had. The final photo was printed on Avery Ink Jet printable fabric and it certainly turned out better. I would like to try the Jacquard cotton fabric too. I do know that I won't be using the Printed Treasures. Since all my pages will have photographs, this is an important decision to me. The other thing I remembered, at the last minute, was to clean my vintage nailheads. As I was handling them and taking them off their strings, my fingers were dirty/dusty and I realized that I hadn't cleaned these yet. The lady I purchase some of my vintage nailheads from forewarned me about cleaning them as she learned the hard way. I am grateful I didn't have to learn that lesson too!!!I am going to finish the back by stitching another piece of ultrasuede to the page. I think I will insert a piece of mat board for a little more support, as the flag is heavy. Now, onto October, thankfully! I need to catch up with friends and visit the other BJP members that I haven't taken the time to do yet!My sister and I just got home from the beach last Tuesday evening after spending three fun days together! The weather was so beautiful for the last couple days of September! It was a sunny and fun filled trip with lots of laughter and catching up!!! I thought you might enjoy a couple pictures.This is a shot looking south from Ecola State Park in Oregon.

And this gorgeous fall sunset and Haystack Rock at Cannon Beach. The next trip to the coast will either be in the stormy weather or next spring!